Oil&Gas Research and Development Centre

Oil&Gas Research and Application Centre is a complex of modern laboratories located in Poland (Jankowice near Poznań) and dedicated to Oil&Gas industry. The laboratory is divided into three sections designed for drilling, production and corrosion studies, aiming to provide the complete service for Oil&Gas customers in Poland and Europe.

Oil&Gas Research and Application Centre is equipped with the state-of-the-art instruments and devices to perform advanced tests and analysis. The research works performed in the Centre’s laboratories enhance development of new products for drilling and oil and gas production (corrosion inhibitors, paraffin inhibitors, scale inhibitors, drilling fluids, products for stimulation and many more). The laboratories provide professional service and technological support, constant quality control of blended products as well as sample analysis and identification (e.g. well water, crude oil, paraffin, asphaltene, scale).

Laboratory equipment

Spectrometer

Spectrometer IR is used to determine substances content in the sample. This quantitative and qualitative determination method is based on recording infrared spectra of the sample and measuring the absorbance at the maximum band (bandwidth) characteristic for the tested substance. The method is used in two ways. It allows to control quality of the products formed and to identify deposits of unknown composition.

Ion Chromatograph

Used for determination of major inorganic anions and cations in the sample, which allows for selection of a suitable inorganic scale inhibitor or solvent. Preparation of the sample is the key step in the analysis, as it determines quality of the results. The use of ion chromatography allows for accurate determination of ions in samples which are complex and multi-matrix, e.g. water samples from separators, re-boilers or well water containing many kinds of cations and anions and having different ionic concentration.

Scale Loop

The differential Scale Loop provides an accurate, reproducible and fast method for selecting and quantifying the most effective means of controlling scale deposition under dynamic conditions. The instrument is suitable to simulate process or reservoir temperatures of up to 250°C and pressures up to 3000psi. The system is also recommended where effects of pressure on scaling tendency are to be studied, and especially for examining the deposition of anhydride under dynamic conditions. The system is equipped with a back pressure valve, which keeps the absolute pressure in the system constant and three high pressure, high precision HPLC pumps. Each pump delivers just one fluid - anionic brine, cationic brine and inhibitor, which provides maximum accuracy. The three fluids are mixed and flow through the exchangeable test pipeline.

Multi-Place Cold Finger

The apparatus uses a rapid screening method to identify and rank potential wax deposition inhibitors. The quantity of paraffin wax adhering to the cooled surface is quantified. The efficiency of scale and paraffin inhibitors can be assessed. The MCF 6 apparatus is designed to be used with black oil samples held in six glass bottles.

Wax-Eval Flow Loop

Wax deposition inside tubular and pipelines reduces the effective flow area, increasing the pressure drop and potentially causing complete blockage. Therefore, it is important to fully understand the oil’s behavior throughout the pressure and temperature path from the formation to the production facilities. Temperature is the dominant parameter affecting waxy crude oil viscosity, gel strength, pour point, wax crystallization and deposition. Wax-Eval is used for determine effectiveness of paraffin inhibitors.

Potentiostat-Galvanostat

Linear Polarization resistance monitoring is an effective electrochemical method of measuring corrosion. The monitoring of the relationship between electrochemical potential and current generated between electrically charged electrodes in a process stream allows the calculation of the corrosion rate. LPR is most effective in aqueous solutions and has proven to be a rapid response technique. The Autolab PGSTAT204 instrument includes a base potentiostat/ galvanostat with a compliance voltage of 20V and a maximum current of 400mA, a corrosion cell, electrodes system and software and can be used for most of the standard electrochemical techniques.

Karl Fischer Titration

Karl Fischer titration is used to directly determine the amount of water in the petroleum products from 0.05% to 100%. The presence of water in the sample determined by titration helps determine the effectiveness and efficiency of demulsifier. Compact oven sample changer is used for thermal sample preparation in Karl Fischer titration. In the oven the samples can be heated up to 250°C. The moisture contained in the sample evaporates and is transported by a dry carrier gas into the titration cell, where the analysis takes place.

Bench-Mount Filter Press

The Ofite low pressure filter press helps determine filtration and wall cake-building properties of drilling fluids. Suitable for field and laboratory use. Filtration is an important feature of each drilling fluid. This parameter is continuously monitored and controlled. Even when filtration control additives are not used, it is usually a conscious decision based on the evaluation of potential consequences that include tightening of the drill string, falling of the well walls and loss of rheological parameters of the drilling fluid.

Hamilton Beach Mixer

Special attention to mixing procedures and reagent preparation is essential in any qualitative fluid analysis. Factors such as low or high shear, initial mix concentrations, and an ability to change mixing speeds are important considerations when choosing a laboratory or field mixer. These mixers are perfect for formulating drilling fluids in the lab, and for pilot testing and mud additive analysis.

Viscometer

Ofite’s Model 900 Viscometer is extremely versatile. Its simplicity makes it ideally suited for the field as well as any laboratory equipment. This fully-automated system accurately determines the flow characteristics of completion fluids and drilling fluids like viscosity, yield point in terms of shear stress, shear rate, time and temperature.

Filter Press

The Ofite Dynamic High-Temperature High-Pressure (HTHP) filter press measures filtration properties under varying dynamic down hole conditions. A motor-driven shaft fitted with propellers turns at varying speeds inside a standard 500 ml HTHP cell. RPM settings from 1 to 1600 RPM impart laminar or turbulent flow to the fluid inside the cell. The test procedure is exactly the same as that in the standard Bench-Mount filtration test. But it allows to measure filtration in high temperature and high pressure conditions.

Force Tensiometer

Force tensiometer K20 is used in Oil&Gas laboratory for determining best performing demulsifier. One which lowers surface tension of crude oil the most, allows for better water and oil separation. The K20 is intended only for measurement of the surface tension of liquids with the Du Noüy ring or Wilhelmy plate method, the interfacial tensions between two liquids with the Du Noüy ring or Wilhelmy plate method and measurement of the density of a liquid.

Capillary Suction Timer

CST is used to characterize shales and to optimize the electrolyte concentration in drilling fluids for minimizing its effect on shale formations. CST studies of filtration characteristics of aqueous systems utilize the capillary suction pressure of porous paper to affect filtration. It is fast and reliable method for measuring the effectiveness of shale swelling inhibitors.

Lubricity Tester

The Ofite combination EP (Extreme Pressure) and Lubricity tester is a high-quality instrument used to measure the lubricating quality of drilling fluids, provides data to evaluate the type and quantity of lubricating additives that may be required, and predicts wear rates of mechanical parts in known fluid systems. The test consists of measuring the torque of a steel block while being pressed against a rotating steel ring.

Roller Oven

The Ofite Roller Oven is an effective aid in determining the effects of temperature on drilling fluid as it circulates through the well bore. Aging the drilling fluid in pressurized containers effectively demonstrates the thermal effects on viscosity and how various additives behave at elevated temperatures. Aging is done under conditions that vary from static to dynamic and from ambient to highly elevated temperatures.

Garrett Gas Train

The most widely used portable instrument for determining the presence and quantity of soluble sulfides and carbonate concentrations in drilling fluid and produced water. Soluble sulfides include H2S as well as sulfide (S2-) and disulfides (HS-) ions. Total soluble carbonates include CO2 as well as carbonate (CO32-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) ions. It is a versatile apparatus allowing for test effectiveness of H2S scavengers.

Aging Cell

The OFITE Aging Cell is a patented pressure vessel that enables samples to be subjected to temperatures higher than the boiling point of water and still be maintained in a liquid state. The cells may be used for static temperature exposure or in a dynamic mode in a roller oven with a preset minimum aging time of 16 hours. For corrosion testing, a special 500 ml, alloy stainless steel Corrosion Test Cell is available with a modified inner cap designed to hold a corrosion coupon.

Autoclaves for Corrosion Rate Measurement

Stereo Microscope

SK stereo microscope is designed for 3D observation of small objects, mineral samples, metals, etc. in reflected and transmitted light and both. High quality optics, combined with high-tech light sources, guarantee the best quality of the image. The technologically advanced application provided with the camera lets the user adjust the image parameters to best visualize the analyzed specimen on the computer screen.

Metallographic Microscope

MM-100 inverted metallurgical microscope is designed for observing the structure of metals, metal alloys and minerals in industrial laboratories. The sample is lit from the bottom through the objective. MM-100 microscope can be outfitted with digital image acquisition system.

Rheometer

Brookfield DV3T rheometer measures fluid viscosity at given shear rates. Viscosity is a measure of fluid’s resistance to flow. In Oil&Gas industry it is used to determine viscosity of many different fluids like crude oil, drilling fluid and commercial products.

Shearometer

Experience has shown that many drilling fluids tend to develop excessive gel or shear strength under static conditions, when the mud is not circulating in the well bore. Excessive shear strength results in high pump pressures required to “break circulation”, in loss of circulation and difficulties in logging, perforating and other down-hole operations. The Shearometer may be used to estimate the extent to which the drilling fluid will develop excessive gel strength, and is the primary measuring device used in the determination of the gel strength of a drilling fluid. The scale measures gel strength in pounds per 100 square feet.

Retort Kit

The retort provides means for separating and measuring the volumes of water, oil, and solids contained in a sample of drilling fluid. A known volume of sample is heated to vaporize the liquid components, which are then condensed and collected in a graduated receiver tube. Liquid volumes are determined by reading the oil and water phases on the graduated cylinder. The total volume of solids, both suspended and dissolved, is obtained by noting the difference of the total sample volume versus the final liquid volume collected. Calculations are necessary to determine the volume of suspended solids since any dissolved solids will be retained in the retort. Relative volumes of low-gravity solids and weight materials may also be calculated.